System and method of adding an anonymous participant to a chat session

Abstract

A system provides the ability for a chat or IM participant to add another participant invisibly and chat with the added participant without the knowledge of the other participants of the original chat session. A first user and a second, employing at least two devices, begin a chat or IM session. A second user initiates a side chat session with a third user. During the side chat session, the third user can selectively receive IM messages being exchanged between the first user and the second user without the knowledge of the first user. Further, the third user and second user may exchange messages that are not provided to the first user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 a first device, including a processor, a memory, and a user interface, conduct a first chat session with a second device over a network;   while conducting the first chat session, the first device receiving, through the user interface, a request to initiate a side chat session with a third device;   the first device establishing a first communication channel between the first device and the third device;   the first device providing access to the first communication channel by the third device;   the first device registering the first communication channel with the first chat session;   after registering with the first chat session, the first communication channel receiving a first message from the first chat session;   the first communication channel providing the first message to the third device; and   the first device preserving the anonymity of the third device with respect to the second device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein requesting a side chat session comprises:
 providing access to a list of two or more devices and/or users to invite into the side chat session;   receiving an identification of the third device in the list; and   inviting the third device into the side chat session.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the list is a contacts list stored on the first device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the third device sending a second message to the first device over the first communication channel, wherein the second message is not sent into the first chat session. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein second device is unaware that the first device invites the third device into the side chat session. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the first device and the third device register with the first communication channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 the first device receiving the second message from third device; and   providing the second message, along with the first message, to a user interface of the first device.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the first device receiving a third message from the second device;   providing the third message to the user interface of the first device; and   precluding transmission of the third message to the third device in the side chat session.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein an identity of the second device is not shared with the third device when providing the second message. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein providing the first message to the third device further comprises:
 receiving selection of the first message in the user interface of the first device;   in response to receiving the selection, transmitting the first message on the first communication channel to the third user.   
     
     
         11 . A device comprising:
 a user interface that:
 displays messages from a chat session; 
 receives inputs from a user associated with the chat session; 
   a memory that stores instructions to execute a side chat module;   a processor in communication with the memory and the user interface, wherein the processor retrieves the instructions from the memory, wherein, based on the instructions, the processor:
 conducts the first chat session with a second device over a network; 
 while conducting the first chat session, receives, through the user interface, a request to initiate a side chat session with a third device; 
 executes the side chat module, wherein the side chat module:
 establishes a first communication channel between the first device and the third device; 
 provides access to the first communication channel by the third device, wherein the first device and the third device register with the first communication channel; 
 registers the first communication channel with the first chat session; 
 after registering with the first chat session, provides a first message from the first chat session to the first communication channel, wherein the first communication channel provides the first message to the third device; and 
 preserves the anonymity of the third device with respect to the second device. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  11 , wherein when receiving the request for a side chat session, the user interface:
 provides access to a list of two or more devices and/or users to invite into the side chat session, wherein the list is a contacts list stored on the first device, wherein second device is unaware that the first device invites the third device into the side chat session;   receives an identification of the third device in the list; and   sends the identification to the side chat module to invite the third device into the side chat session.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the side chat module further:
 receives a second message from the third device over the first communication channel, wherein the second message is not sent into the first chat session;   receives the second message from third device; and   provides the second message, along with the first message, to the user interface to display together.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  13 , wherein an identity of the second device is not shared with the third device when providing the second message. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the side chat module further:
 when providing the first message to the third device, receives a signal, indicating a selection of the first message, from the user interface of the first device;   in response to receiving the signal, transmits the first message on the first communication channel to the third user.   
     
     
         16 . A user interface method, conducted on a user interface of a first device, the method comprising:
 providing a first window associated with a first chat session between the first device and a second device;   displaying a first message, received from the second device, in the first window;   displaying a first user-selectable device, in the first window, to initiate a side chat;   receiving selection of the first user-selectable device to initiate a side chat session with a third device;   after receiving selection of the first user-selectable device and initiation of the side chat session, displaying a second window;   displaying the first message, received from the second device, in the second window;   displaying a second message, received from the third device, in the second window;   displaying, in the second window, a first text entry area to receive text input for a third message to be sent to the first device; and   displaying, in the second window, a second text entry area to receive text input for a fourth message to be sent to the third device.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first user-selectable device is a button, wherein the first user-selectable device is also displayed in the second window, and wherein a visual appearance of the first user-selectable device is different in the second window compared to when the first user-selectable device is displayed in the first window. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a second visual appearance of the second message is different from a first visual appearance of the first message. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein a third visual appearance of the second text entry area is similar to a fourth visual appearance of the second message. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the first message and the second message are displayed in the same portion of the second window.